Search age:

Search in:

Cummings puts family reputation on the line

John Holloway

RANDWICK trainer Anthony Cummings has an extremely high opinion of the broodmare Extra Terrestial, a two-time winner by Epsom Derby victor Quest For Fame, and will be anxiously awaiting the outcome of three of Friday's barrier trials on the Kensington track.

The reason isn't hard to fathom as Cummings will trial three of Extra Terrestial's offspring which he prepares - Karosse, Hard Marker and Swiggin'.

Cummings has enjoyed considerable success with past members of the Extra Terrestial family, the two most notable being her half-brothers Outback Prince and Hotel Grand - he trained the latter to win the group 1 Spring Champion Stakes and the pair won more than $1.4 million in prizemoney.

Karosse is the eldest of the three triallers at four and is by Flying Spur. He cost $200,000 at the 2009 Inglis Easter sales and has raced on eight occasions for placings at Wyong and Kembla. He needs to show some improvement to justify his ongoing preparation, let alone his outlay.

Advertisement

Hard Marker is by Fastnet Rock, and he displayed OK form as a two-year-old - he's now a year older - with a fourth placings in a feature autumn juvenile race - the Pago Pago Stakes.

Hard Marker has had the benefit of a Randwick barrier trial on December 17 in his first appearance since August which he won impressively and looks a strong chance of breaking through this campaign.

Swiggin' is a two-year-old, also by Fastnet Rock, and comes under the microscope for the first time in Friday's trial. Cummings paid $350,000 for Swiggin' at last year's Inglis Easter sales, and he was a most imposing individual.

Extra Terrestial is represented by a colt by Encosta De Lago in the Widden Stud draft for this year's Inglis sales. It's a sure bet that Cummings will be making a strong inspection of the colt, even more so if one of his three relations can get themselves in the winner's enclosure before April 9 when the sales begin.

Rock eclipses $5m

Coolmore's No.1 sire Fastnet Rock finished off last year by becoming the first stallion to pass the $5 million barrier for progeny earnings, staving off Lonhro and heading into this year with an advantage of more than $320,000 in winnings. The stage, however, looks quite exciting with both racetrack stars providing the quinella in the 2011-12 stallions premiership, eventually won clearly by Fastnet Rock. Fastnet Rock has some proven performers that hopefully can be seen to advantage on the track this year, mainly Mark Kavanagh's Atlantic Jewel, along with Nechita, Jolie Bay and Sea Siren. Darley's Lonhro, on the other hand, will be looking towards Golden Slipper winner Pierro to get a big share of prizemoney , and his clashes with All Too Hard should provide some mouth-watering racing.

Think Mr Big

Mr Big, a $21,000 buy at the 2010 Magic Millions sales, took his earnings past $S1.5 million ($1.17 million) on Sunday for Singapore trainer Michael Freedman. The son of Elusive Quality won the a Malaysian Magic Millions race by two lengths to take his record to 10 wins and nine placings from 19 starts. The good news relating to Mr Big is the fact he has a half-brother by Mossman scheduled for sale next Friday from the draft of Queenslander Robyn Wise. Mr Big's dam Basamaat is an unraced daughter of Danehill which boasts a solid black-type pedigree, and her son's credentials in Singapore will create enormous interest. No Looking Back's thrilling Carrington Stakes victory for Gai Waterhouse on New Year's Day also came at the right time in regards to the Magic Millions sale: a full brother to the filly is selling on day one of the Gold Coast auction. No Looking Back was a $500,000 yearling buy from John Singleton's Strawberry Hills Stud and the filly has raced on just five occasions. The $60,000 first prize on Tuesday took her overall earnings to $652,000. No Looking Back is a daughter of Redoute's Choice and Mirror Mirror, and the colt selling is also by Redoute's Choice, a son of the mighty Danehill.